Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Children's Speech and Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist

This job is now closed

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a therapist with a passion for working with autistic children and their families. The post holder will join our social communication team which consists of paediatricians, SLTs, an OT and a clinical psychologist.

We are looking for a therapist to do autism assessments as well as some post diagnostic support/therapy. Some of the post diagnstic work will be alongside our colleagues in education.

There will be opportunities for training and development alongside regular supervision.

Main duties of the job

Please see the Job Description and the Persons Specification for further details about the job role. If you are unable to access the PDF, the details of the job description can also be found in the 'Detailed Job Description and Main responsibilities' section.

About us

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trustbelieves that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Date posted

03 October 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£40,701 to £48,054 a year per annum including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-1540

Job locations

Tynemouth Road Health Centre

Tynemouth Road

London

N15 4RH

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description

Job Title: Childrens Speech and Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist

Grade: Band 6

Annual leave: 27 days per annum with up to five years NHS service

29 days after 5 years NHS service 33 days after 10 years NHS service

Superannuation: 6% of salary (optional)

Department: CYPS Haringey Social Communication Team

Responsible to: Team Leader, Social Communication Team and professional

lead as appropriate.

Accountable to: Haringey Lead Childrens Therapies and Specialist School

Nursing

Terms and Conditions of Service: In accordance with Agenda for Change NHS Terms &

Conditions of Service

Responsible for: Therapy assistant and SLT/OT students on placement as

agreed by professional lead SLT/OT

POST SUMMARY

Haringey Social Communication Team provides an autism assessment service for children 2-12 years old and also works with the Language and Autism Support Team to provide post diagnostic care. The post holder will be responsible for providing input both into autism assessments and post diagnostic support for young people and their families. The post holder will be a clinical specialist within the area of autism as well as having specialist knowledge and experience in a wide range of conditions relevant to the paediatric population.

Haringey is a culturally diverse borough with many multi-ethnic, bilingual and multi-lingual speaking communities. These may provide potential barriers to communication which could affect delivery of client care. All staff need to have an awareness of, and sensitivity to, social, cultural and economic issues.

JOB SUMMARY

To provide specialist input into autism assessments for children 2-12 years. This could involve detailed development case histories from parents/carers and/or ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule) assessments with the child/young person.
To be involved in clinical governance issues by keeping up to date with developments in paediatrics, undertaking audits to evaluate practice and participating in research projects.
To have a support role with junior colleagues, therapy assistants and students.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical

To be independently able to select and apply appropriate assessment material for assessing autism in children/young people 2-12 years old.
To set and maintain high standards of clinical practice, which is evidence based where possible, using standardised assessment and outcome measures, where appropriate.
To carry out home, school and nursery observations as part of the autism assessment where necessary.
To be able to gather information that may be sensitive or complex and analyse it as part of a full assessment of a clients strengths and difficulties.
To work closely with clients/carers and MDT using empathy, tact, reassurance and active listening to complete assessments, discuss results, and agree forward plans and any onward referrals.
To routinely overcome barriers to communication during assessment. This includes the use of sign, symbols or other alternative and augmentation strategies with communication disordered clients/carers, as well as the use of interpreters for clients and carers who do not have English as a first language.
To write diagnostic reports that are appropriate for families and schools and show a respect and understanding of neurodiversity.
To provide advice/supervision to junior staff and students on a range of issues related to neurodiversity and assessment.
To demonstrate ability to identify and reflect on ethical issues and provide guidance to junior staff as necessary.
To demonstrate highly effective personal coordination of day-to-day activities including prioritising caseloads, decision-making and problem solving.
To be able to problem solve and judge complex and sensitive situations and circumstances that require analysis of a range of different options.
To be an active member and role model for the MDT within the community.
Liaise with other agencies involved in the childs care, including relatives/carers and education staff, as appropriate to the individual childs needs.
To respond to the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 completing written advice (EHCP) for children/young people who may have Special Educational Needs.
To refer children/young people to other Health, Education or Social Services professionals as necessary.

Administration

To be responsible for maintaining stock and advising on resources to carry out the job and ordering equipment and materials.
To maintain up-to-date records and statistics on children seen according to Haringey policies.
To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance and maintain professional standards of dress code and personal presentation.

Management

To attend relevant departmental, in-service training and Trust meetings when required.
To participate in the operational planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within areas of practice, leading on delegated project within the service.
To participate in service reviews and in the formulation of departmental policies and procedures.

To participate in Quality, Audit and Outcome measures initiatives.

Teaching, Training and Research

To receive regular supervision and annual appraisal from the Team Leader and/or professional lead.
To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision.
To develop and maintain a professional/specialist interest and expertise in neurodiversity and act as a resource for other team members for this subject area accessing relevant external training as appropriate.
To take a lead in facilitating training events and presenting information as appropriate.
To participate in in-service training as required.
To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external available developmental opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio (CPD).
To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
To attend all mandatory training and relevant courses to develop self in specialist area of work.

Other

To be able to work in frequent unpleasant conditions with odours, occasional body fluids, home visits and confined areas.
To frequently deal with highly emotional and highly distressing situations and circumstances with children and their families including child protection cases.
To communicate highly complex and sensitive information relating to medical conditions and/or neurodiversity, requiring skills of empathy and reassurance.
To occasionally deal with a wide range of complex emotions in staff and provide support to distressed staff members.
To regularly travel within the community (schools, homes etc).

Revalidation and Registration

It is the responsibility of all staff registered with a professional body to:

Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met and assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
Contribute and participate in the development of colleagues professional practice across the trust through leading ward and/or department projects and supporting training.
Ensure optimum use is made of working time including when remote working.

Equal Opportunities

Our latest policy known as Promoting Equality, Diversity and Human Rights outlines the Trusts commitment to ensuring that no job applicant or employee receives less than favourable treatment on grounds of sex, marital and civil partnership status,gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, colour, creed, religion or belief, physical disability, mental health, learning difficulty, age or sexual orientation and is not placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.

For more information about our policy and commitment to equality, click:

http://www.whittington.nhs.uk/default.asp?c=10505&q=equality

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description

Job Title: Childrens Speech and Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist

Grade: Band 6

Annual leave: 27 days per annum with up to five years NHS service

29 days after 5 years NHS service 33 days after 10 years NHS service

Superannuation: 6% of salary (optional)

Department: CYPS Haringey Social Communication Team

Responsible to: Team Leader, Social Communication Team and professional

lead as appropriate.

Accountable to: Haringey Lead Childrens Therapies and Specialist School

Nursing

Terms and Conditions of Service: In accordance with Agenda for Change NHS Terms &

Conditions of Service

Responsible for: Therapy assistant and SLT/OT students on placement as

agreed by professional lead SLT/OT

POST SUMMARY

JOB SUMMARY

To provide specialist input into autism assessments for children 2-12 years. This could involve detailed development case histories from parents/carers and/or ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule) assessments with the child/young person.
To be involved in clinical governance issues by keeping up to date with developments in paediatrics, undertaking audits to evaluate practice and participating in research projects.
To have a support role with junior colleagues, therapy assistants and students.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical

To be independently able to select and apply appropriate assessment material for assessing autism in children/young people 2-12 years old.
To set and maintain high standards of clinical practice, which is evidence based where possible, using standardised assessment and outcome measures, where appropriate.
To carry out home, school and nursery observations as part of the autism assessment where necessary.
To be able to gather information that may be sensitive or complex and analyse it as part of a full assessment of a clients strengths and difficulties.
To work closely with clients/carers and MDT using empathy, tact, reassurance and active listening to complete assessments, discuss results, and agree forward plans and any onward referrals.
To routinely overcome barriers to communication during assessment. This includes the use of sign, symbols or other alternative and augmentation strategies with communication disordered clients/carers, as well as the use of interpreters for clients and carers who do not have English as a first language.
To write diagnostic reports that are appropriate for families and schools and show a respect and understanding of neurodiversity.
To provide advice/supervision to junior staff and students on a range of issues related to neurodiversity and assessment.
To demonstrate ability to identify and reflect on ethical issues and provide guidance to junior staff as necessary.
To demonstrate highly effective personal coordination of day-to-day activities including prioritising caseloads, decision-making and problem solving.
To be able to problem solve and judge complex and sensitive situations and circumstances that require analysis of a range of different options.
To be an active member and role model for the MDT within the community.
Liaise with other agencies involved in the childs care, including relatives/carers and education staff, as appropriate to the individual childs needs.
To respond to the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 completing written advice (EHCP) for children/young people who may have Special Educational Needs.
To refer children/young people to other Health, Education or Social Services professionals as necessary.

Administration

To be responsible for maintaining stock and advising on resources to carry out the job and ordering equipment and materials.
To maintain up-to-date records and statistics on children seen according to Haringey policies.
To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance and maintain professional standards of dress code and personal presentation.

Management

To attend relevant departmental, in-service training and Trust meetings when required.
To participate in the operational planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within areas of practice, leading on delegated project within the service.
To participate in service reviews and in the formulation of departmental policies and procedures.

To participate in Quality, Audit and Outcome measures initiatives.

Teaching, Training and Research

To receive regular supervision and annual appraisal from the Team Leader and/or professional lead.
To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision.
To develop and maintain a professional/specialist interest and expertise in neurodiversity and act as a resource for other team members for this subject area accessing relevant external training as appropriate.
To take a lead in facilitating training events and presenting information as appropriate.
To participate in in-service training as required.
To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external available developmental opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio (CPD).
To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
To attend all mandatory training and relevant courses to develop self in specialist area of work.

Other

To be able to work in frequent unpleasant conditions with odours, occasional body fluids, home visits and confined areas.
To frequently deal with highly emotional and highly distressing situations and circumstances with children and their families including child protection cases.
To communicate highly complex and sensitive information relating to medical conditions and/or neurodiversity, requiring skills of empathy and reassurance.
To occasionally deal with a wide range of complex emotions in staff and provide support to distressed staff members.
To regularly travel within the community (schools, homes etc).

Revalidation and Registration

It is the responsibility of all staff registered with a professional body to:

Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met and assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
Contribute and participate in the development of colleagues professional practice across the trust through leading ward and/or department projects and supporting training.
Ensure optimum use is made of working time including when remote working.

Equal Opportunities

For more information about our policy and commitment to equality, click:

http://www.whittington.nhs.uk/default.asp?c=10505&q=equality

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree/Diploma in OT or degree in SLT
Registration with HCPC

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of current best practice in SLT/OT and medical conditions associated with area of work.
Understanding of neurodiversity and changes in terminology and therapeutic practice.
Knowledge of autism assessment practice including NICE guidelines and DSM 5.

Desirable

ADOS training.
ADI-R training.

Experience

Essential

Experience working with children with additional needs, especially children with ASC and communication difficulties, their relatives and carer.
Experience working in a multi-disciplinary service.

Desirable

Minimum of 6 months experience working with children.
Experience using ADOS modules 1-4.
Experience using other autism assessment tools such as ADI-R or Vanderbilt tele ASD- PEDS

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree/Diploma in OT or degree in SLT
Registration with HCPC

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of current best practice in SLT/OT and medical conditions associated with area of work.
Understanding of neurodiversity and changes in terminology and therapeutic practice.
Knowledge of autism assessment practice including NICE guidelines and DSM 5.

Desirable

ADOS training.
ADI-R training.

Experience

Essential

Experience working with children with additional needs, especially children with ASC and communication difficulties, their relatives and carer.
Experience working in a multi-disciplinary service.

Desirable

Minimum of 6 months experience working with children.
Experience using ADOS modules 1-4.
Experience using other autism assessment tools such as ADI-R or Vanderbilt tele ASD- PEDS

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Tynemouth Road Health Centre

Tynemouth Road

London

N15 4RH

Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Tynemouth Road Health Centre

Tynemouth Road

London

N15 4RH

Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)